Its not that people don't understand, its the end of the world mentality. It stinks he's hurt, but there is a possibility someone else can be grabbed off the waiver wire or acquired in a trade.

When you predict no playoffs because of a TE you are suggesting that this is a really bad team.

I never thought playoffs to begin with. Remind me though, who automatically relegated us to cellar dweller? I don't recall the conversation ever going there.

Read the original post regarding playoffs and I said its not the end of the world, I never said stop preaching that Miami is now a last place team.

My point was, is and will continue to be that losing Keller does not equate to this team missing the playoffs. If it does and he was the key piece then this team was poorly constructed and never would have succeeded. Lets be very honest here, he was a backup plan albeit a very good one. I'm not going to worry about losing him until I witness that someone else out there can't do 75% of what he would have accomplished.

While you may not predict playoffs the moves made this offseason were to achieve that goal. I think it is pretty obvious that there will be many levels of disappointment (ownership, management, coaches, fans, PHINFEVER) if this team isn't a wild card team. Losing Dustin Keller should not change that.

I never thought playoffs to begin with. Remind me though, who automatically relegated us to cellar dweller? I don't recall the conversation ever going there.

Read the original post regarding playoffs and I said its not the end of the world, I never said stop preaching that Miami is now a last place team.

My point was, is and will continue to be that losing Keller does not equate to this team missing the playoffs. If it does and he was the key piece then this team was poorly constructed and never would have succeeded. Lets be very honest here, he was a backup plan albeit a very good one. I'm not going to worry about losing him until I witness that someone else out there can't do 75% of what he would have accomplished.

While you may not predict playoffs the moves made this offseason were to achieve that goal. I think it is pretty obvious that there will be many levels of disappointment (ownership, management, coaches, fans, PHINFEVER) if this team isn't a wild card team. Losing Dustin Keller should not change that.

A backup plan?

The guy was our starter. The fact that he was on a 1 year deal was semantics, but regardless that was Keller's choice because he wanted to raise his street value. We didn't draft top talent at that position because we expected heavy contribution from the man.

Anyone who has a basic understanding of the dimension he adds to the offense from a pass receiving standpoint is naturally going to be disappointed and have some of their hope deflated. Seriously, secondaries are going to bracket the ever-living crap out of Wallace now unless somebody from our TE crew steps up .... which is highly unlikely. Now we REALLY need our run game to materialize to draw those safeties in.

The guy was our starter. The fact that he was on a 1 year deal was semantics, but regardless that was Keller's choice because he wanted to raise his street value. We didn't draft top talent at that position because we expected heavy contribution from the man.

Anyone who has a basic understanding of the dimension he adds to the offense from a pass receiving standpoint is naturally going to be disappointed and have some of their hope deflated. Seriously, secondaries are going to bracket the ever-living crap out of Wallace now unless somebody from our TE crew steps up .... which is highly unlikely. Now we REALLY need our run game to materialize to draw those safeties in.

Pretty certain Miami targeted Jared Cook with a very handsome offer and even dabbled with the idea of Martellus Bennett. When Cook fell through they went to Keller so yeah, he was the backup plan. That doesn't mean he was a bad option or wasn't the sure bet starter Miami needed.

And yes, what he added to the offense was perfect and would have made life a heck of a lot easier for Tannehill. I agree with you that Wallace could be limited and no one currently on the roster has me doing back flips over their newly found opportunity.

Lets just see who becomes available over the next few weeks. Its better this happened now than 2 or 3 weeks into the season. I'd bet money that the starting TE for the majority of this season isn't currently on the roster. Ireland doesn't have to be desperate but he could use a pick to acquire a guy because there are already 4 developmental TEs (if Clay counts) on the roster.

Pretty certain Miami targeted Jared Cook with a very handsome offer and even dabbled with the idea of Martellus Bennett. When Cook fell through they went to Keller so yeah, he was the backup plan. That doesn't mean he was a bad option or wasn't the sure bet starter Miami needed.

And yes, what he added to the offense was perfect and would have made life a heck of a lot easier for Tannehill. I agree with you that Wallace could be limited and no one currently on the roster has me doing back flips over their newly found opportunity.

Lets just see who becomes available over the next few weeks. Its better this happened now than 2 or 3 weeks into the season. I'd bet money that the starting TE for the majority of this season isn't currently on the roster. Ireland doesn't have to be desperate but he could use a pick to acquire a guy because there are already 4 developmental TEs (if Clay counts) on the roster.

I do remember the Cook thing. Just sounded for a moment like you were sort've dismissing the impact of Keller's injury because he was our second choice. I don't remember us pursuing Bennett though. I wanted him, unfortunately he was all about Chicago and nobody else.

I do remember the Cook thing. Just sounded for a moment like you were sort've dismissing the impact of Keller's injury because he was our second choice. I don't remember us pursuing Bennett though. I wanted him, unfortunately he was all about Chicago and nobody else.

Not at all. I agree it sucks big time. Just think that losing a TE, even a very good one, is not reason to abandon hope for the playoffs.

I think we forget that some Tannehill accuracy issues prevented Clay from a few TD catches last year. From what I've seen the last few games Tannehill's timing and ball placement have improved, hopefully meaning that guys like Clay and Sims can really contribute. Find a serviceable starter and the offense hasn't fallen off too much.

I do remember the Cook thing. Just sounded for a moment like you were sort've dismissing the impact of Keller's injury because he was our second choice. I don't remember us pursuing Bennett though. I wanted him, unfortunately he was all about Chicago and nobody else.

Not at all. I agree it sucks big time. Just think that losing a TE, even a very good one, is not reason to abandon hope for the playoffs.

I think we forget that some Tannehill accuracy issues prevented Clay from a few TD catches last year. From what I've seen the last few games Tannehill's timing and ball placement have improved, hopefully meaning that guys like Clay and Sims can really contribute. Find a serviceable starter and the offense hasn't fallen off too much.

Jared Cook was Miami 1st choice. St. Louis gave Cook that unreal deal and Miami moved on to Keller. If Green Bay would have released JeMichael Finley, I think they would have went after him.

Losing Keller is a blow, no question. Even in there limited time, you could see him and Ryan had developed a nice chemistry. The young kids have to step up, and I was certainly happy to see Ryan and Mike Wallace hook up.

The knee injury that ended Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller’s season was severe, but it appears that it wasn’t quite as bad as it could have been.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Keller avoided nerve or cartilage damage when he tore the ACL, MCL and PCL and dislocated the kneecap in his right knee. There was a particular fear about nerve damage because it might have seriously compromised his ability to resume his playing career after this season.

The knee injury that ended Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller’s season was severe, but it appears that it wasn’t quite as bad as it could have been.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Keller avoided nerve or cartilage damage when he tore the ACL, MCL and PCL and dislocated the kneecap in his right knee. There was a particular fear about nerve damage because it might have seriously compromised his ability to resume his playing career after this season.

The Baltimore Ravens had the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs, suffer an Achilles' tendon injury in the offseason, and miss half the 2012 season.

The Ravens also lost top cornerback Ladarius Webb to an ACL injury in week six, then future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis missed the final 10 games because of a torn biceps. Yet, somehow the Ravens are the reigning Super Bowl champions after beating a 49ers team that lost its starting quarterback at midseason.

Funny how Flacco improved so suddenly once Cam Camoron was let go as offensive coordinator.

Not only that, the whole offense improved.

Note that it was Jim Caldwell calling the plays. The same Jim Caldwell who led Indy to a Super Bowl in 2009. The same Jim Caldwell who was given a ringing endorsement by Peyton Manning after he was fired but didn't get a head coaching gig.